Darlene Foster's Blog

As the sun sets on another year, it’s time for me to see how I did with the goals set out at the beginning of the year. All years have highs and lows, but upon reflection it wasn’t a bad year. 

2019 Goals

1. Publish and promote Amanda in Holland-Missing in Action.                       I am happy to say that Amanda in Holland was released on September 2, 2019. I did a lot of on-line promotion before and after publication. 
2. Return to Canada in the fall of 2019 to launch Amanda in Holland, organize readings and signings at bookstores, libraries, and schools.          I did return to Canada in October and visited many bookstores, schools and libraries. It was a successful tour.
3. Finish writing Amanda in Malta-The Sleeping Lady.                          Amanda in Malta is finished, it just needs to be edited and beta read before sending it to the publisher. It should be published Spring 2021.
4. Start Amanda in France.                                                                              Some rough notes have been made for this book but I haven’t started writing the story yet. 
5. Do (at least) one thing every day to promote my writing.                           I do this automatically now. 
6. Publish an anthology of short stories about growing up in rural Alberta.                                                                                                             This has been on the list for a couple of years and I still haven’t done it!
7. Try writing a picture book.                                                                                 I have made some notes for a picture book but feel I need to learn more about this genre before I attempt it.
8. Visit a part of Spain I haven’t been to before.                                                 I visited Tarragona, Reus, Lorca, Aledo and Montserrate for the first time. All fascinating places in Spain. 
9. Attend a Moors and Christians Festival.                                                          I didn’t do this, but I did attend an amazing Easter parade in Lorca and a Candle Night Festival in Aledo. 
10. Go on a cruise, visiting Venice, Rome or Greece perhaps.                     This didn’t happen.
11. Read at least 30 books.                                                                                  This was my Goodreads Challenge and I did it. In fact I read 31 books!
12. Take an online course.                                                                                         I didn’t do this but did learn some new things by reading informative blogs.
13. Make new friends, online and in person, and stay in touch with longtime friends.                                                                                                   I have made some new friends, a few in person and many online. I have made a concerted effort to keep in touch with old friends as they are gold. Seeing many of them on my return trip to Canada was the best.
14. Celebrate my birthday in style.                                                                           I had friends over for a sunny March afternoon tea on my terrace. Hubby purchased a special cake for me. A good time was had by all. 

I usually like to pick a word or three for the year. I decided on action, learn, listen for 2019. I believe I did listen better, which in turn enabled me to learn more and take appropriate action. I seldom look back at these words but having written them down, they seem to become imprinted in the back of my mind and affect how I live my life. Funny how that works.

I have just realized we have come to the end of the second decade of the 21st Century. Incredible. It would be worth reflecting on the past ten years. Perhaps in another post.

I wish all of you a fabulous New Year’s Eve, whether you go out and celebrate or have a quiet evening at home with a loved one or a good book. See you in 2020 with a new list of goals.